[Hiring] Senior Design Director @AECOM

Role Description

AECOM is seeking an experienced Senior Design Director to lead the planning, design, and delivery of complex digital infrastructure, mission-critical, utility, and large-scale infrastructure programs. This role will provide executive leadership for multidisciplinary teams delivering:

• Hyperscale data centers
• Mission-critical facilities
• Telecommunications infrastructure
• Utility systems
• Network operations facilities
• Cable landing stations
• Associated infrastructure developments

The successful candidate will bring extensive experience leading integrated design teams across various disciplines and serve as both a trusted client advisor and senior design leader responsible for guiding projects from site selection and due diligence through design, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness.

What You'll Do

• Design Leadership
  • Lead multidisciplinary design teams across all project phases.
  • Direct coordination among architecture, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, telecommunications, environmental, and commissioning disciplines.
  • Ensure design integration, quality, constructability, resilience, and operational excellence.
  • Lead technical design reviews and executive stakeholder workshops.
• Program Delivery
  • Manage large and complex programs from planning through commissioning.
  • Oversee project scope, budget, schedule, quality, and risk.
  • Identify project delivery challenges and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Support procurement, contractor coordination, and construction administration activities.
• Client Leadership
  • Serve as executive-level client lead.
  • Build and maintain relationships with hyperscale technology providers, utilities, infrastructure developers, public agencies, and institutional clients.
  • Lead strategic account growth and business development activities.
  • Support major pursuits and proposal efforts.
• Technical Oversight
  • Provide leadership for the planning and delivery of:
    • AI infrastructure campuses
    • Mission-critical facilities
    • Cable landing stations
    • Network operations centers
    • Utility and power infrastructure
    • Fiber and telecommunications networks
    • Industrial and technology campuses
    • Broadband and connectivity infrastructure
• Team Development
  • Mentor project managers, design managers, and technical leaders.
  • Build and grow a high-performing multidisciplinary delivery team.
  • Support recruitment and succession planning activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or related discipline + 8 years of relevant experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.
• 8+ years of experience managing complex infrastructure, telecommunications, mission-critical, utility, or data center projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success managing project budgets, schedules, and client relationships.

Requirements

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent professional credential.
• Experience delivering data centers, telecommunications facilities, broadband networks, fiber infrastructure, utility infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, or related large-scale infrastructure programs.
• Knowledge of submarine cable systems, cable landing stations, dark fiber networks, carrier-neutral facilities, or long-haul communications infrastructure.
• Experience supporting international projects and geographically distributed teams.
• Familiarity with permitting, environmental compliance, utility coordination, and regulatory processes.
• Experience using BIM/Revit, Civil 3D, Bluebeam, GIS, or related design and collaboration platforms.
• Strong business development, proposal management, and client engagement experience.
• Proven ability to mentor staff and lead high-performing teams.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits
• Paid time off, leaves of absences
• Voluntary benefits, perks
• Flexible work options
• Well-being resources, employee assistance program
• Business travel insurance
• Service recognition awards
• Retirement savings plan
• Employee stock purchase plan